February 2019 - Recruiting Thread Part III

Discuss and share any Virginia Tech related recruiting topics from February 2019 [0] that don't warrant their own thread [1]. Please do some digging to share original content (e.g. embed the original tweet, not a link to another post/website with said tweet), add context / relevant information and respect the Community Guidelines.

[0] If someone would like to make this thread from month-to-month, let Joe know, he is apt to forget and pressed for time. Or simply copy the boilerplate and start a new thread.
[1] New commitments, decommitments, portal entries, etc... deserve their own thread. Please read the brief best-practice tips at the top of the recruiting forum.

As boring as "we're going to win in the trenches" might sound, it is absolutely critical to winning often at a high level. Just as much as having O-Linemen who can pass and run block at a high level affects the running and passing game (go figure, who knew?), having a DL that can fit in their run gaps and also collapse the pocket or rush the passer can make the linebackers and secondary look great.

"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

That is grade A negative recruiting being put in his ear. This is the type of stuff our staff needs to get ahead of with recruits and squash before it bites us, which it may have.

This is the drawback to the boom-or-bust approach Tech took with bringing Asante in on an official visit before the early signing period. It's very hard to fend off the negative recruiting down the stretch. Best to hope for is Tech is able to talk with him ahead of his announcement to set the record straight.

Yeah I think it is hard in hindsight to know what is the right call, but I think they had to take there swing at him while we were first to offer and he was getting ready to "blow up" with offers.

Since we only have so much support staff and the weekend he took his official was along with at least 12 other officials, so I can guarantee he got way less personalized attention than Nester did last weekend. That and I think he was the only official for UNC so they had the opportunity to lay on the thick "salesmanship" they have.

I tell this to anyone who will listen but it still boggles my mind why ANYONE would go to UNC to play football. Beyond the Jordan swag, very few to no one cares about UNC football, they haven't put alot of folks into the league in recent years, and outside of 2015 haven't been good since 1997.

It's impossible to know what the best recruiting strategy is for every player. Having a large group visit with lots of solid commitments worked with Fuga and Barno. We've also heard that Devyn Ford made a strong connection with other Penn State commits during his visit and that may have been a significant factor in influencing his decision.

I'm not saying there's nothing to be learned from this situation but sometimes you can do everything extremely well and it still doesn't work out.

Well that's my point, that's the downside (or bust) of scheduling the official visit before the early signing period. Having the last face to fact contact in recruiting is a huge advantage (see: Nester). I wonder if Tech will revisit that strategy down the road.

It is definitely a drawback, but one thing we've seen a little with this staff is reports of recruits mentioning the staff seemed to lose touch. I'm not talking about guys who we're cooling on, either. I think Sainristil said something to this effect at some point, and there have been others.

Regardless, when something happens like the mass exodus to the portal, the coaches HAVE to know that is going to get played up, and need to be putting out those fires ASAP. It is troubling to see a recruit reaching out to a (transferring) player. Coaches should have been all over him as soon as all that went down. We need to be interfacing with the recruits to assure them it's for the best, the team meeting went well, we're better for it, etc. I'm sure this message should be repeated, especially when we know it will be used against us on the trail.

Asante reaching out to Kumah doesn't mean coaches weren't doing what they were supposed to be doing or not communicating with him. It's not surprising that Asante wanted to hear the flip side of the coin. If someone was leaving a job you were thinking of taking, most people would be interested in hearing that leaving person's honest opinion of the job and not just take the job pitch at face value.

And while Smith might not have been on Scholarship (however nowhere did I see that in his recruiting from 2017.. he was committed for a long time and signed with us... plus we are not in the business of pulling scholarships from injured players), and he was probably more of a Safety than a Corner, especially after his ACL injury during his senior HS season... but he still transferred.

This just goes back to the main point - it should have been clarified. A graduate transfer and a guy not on scholarship who doesn't have a chance of ever playing here should never be misconstrued as a negative toward the program and/or 'guys fleeing tech'

1) The coaches would have to know that FSU made this dumb negative recruiting statement (it's not that hard to verify who has left)
2) This convo doesn't prove the coaches didn't do that. Doesn't prove they did either. But if this is your only proof they didn't, it isn't there.

This is probably a really dumb question, but if today is signing day, don't we usually have a thread with all the tweets and commitments? We had one for the early signing period right? Is something different this year?

If I had to guess sheer volume, plus all three of our expected LOI's came in early this am. Our day is done barring a miracle recovery with Asante or a last minute "wtf" commit. ESD will be the bigger signing day moving forward unless something changes.

I don't see where UMD prospers in any way. With Michigan, OSU, MSU, and PSU... Maryland is good for 4th place or worst every year in their division (let alone the conference) unless something changes drastically at Michigan, OSU, and PSU.

Their ceiling seems pretty low being in that division against that kind of talent. Their ceiling isn't low in recruiting, however, and that's where Locksley can really do damage. It will be tough recruiting the DMV against him.

I think it depends on the expectations and ambitions of their Athletic Department and fanbase. If Locksley can get them to 9-3, 8-4 regularly I think he will stick around for awhile. Beat one of the 4 division contenders every so often (tOSU, Mich, MSU, PSU), and it's probably good enough to keep him employed.

I agree but he is the perfect kind of coach for their situation because they are in such a tough spot in their conference that like you guys said, the ceiling doesn't seem that high. The other way to keep fan bases happy or at least at bay is recruiting at a high level because it gives the fan base optimism every off season and buys the coach some good will. Example: people were losing their shit this season and after the bowl game but things have gotten a lot more optimistic around here with the recent recruiting wins.

"And guess what, you've wandered into our school of tuna and we now have a taste of lion." -Allen Gamble, The Other Guys
@Doooougie07

It wlll be interesting to see what areas we focus on moving forward and where we have success. It would be nice if Jafar Williams is able to leverage some connections in Eastern PA and NJ since those areas are within a pretty reasonable geographic footprint for VT.

I mean its nice he can kick some booming kicks, but much like FG kickers that can make it from 75 yards before the game with no line to kick over, he needs to prove it on the field with a DL gunning for the block.

But hey, good for him, he's getting a free education out of his ability to kick a ball.

King Alum of the House Hokie, the First of His Name, Khal of the Turkey Legs, The rightful Heir to the Big Board, the Unbanned, Breaker of Trolls and Father of Gritty

Fuente says #Hokies offense has ranked 1st, 5th and 8th all-time in Virginia Tech history the last three years. Thinks that's having an effect on recruits. Interesting to hear him tout the offensive success numbers-wise here. Doesn't normally do that.— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) February 6, 2019

I'm hoping that next season is the year they drop a couple regular season games. This coaching and player turnover has got to eventually have an effect. An injury to a player like Tua could make them look mortal, who knows.

They won't lose multiple regular season games next year. They still return almost their entire offense and some of the important parts of the defense.

The coaching and player turnover did catch up to them, when they had one healthy OLB (their edge rushing positions, zero healthy players at the primarily pass rushing specialist position) in the National Championship game, and a bunch of checked out coaches with one foot already elsewhere, and lost all their top 7 secondary contributors from 2017. They will probably have a better defense this coming season than last year.

Multiple games is a stretch. Opening with Duke, well I feel sorry for any team that plays bama with more than a week free before the game. Also Duke lost a lot of offensive players. Bama has a bye before probably their toughest game, @A&M. LSU still needs a QB to compete. Auburn is really the only other chance.

It's important to remember that they won every regular season game by 22 or more points last season. The injuries and lack of depth caught up to them in the postseason. It's difficult to not focus on the most recent performance, but the NCG was a poor example of the quality of that team.

It was true... 3/4 of their two deep at OLB was injured, and they only had a true freshman who wasn't physically ready to play 3-4 OLB and a former walk on. They were playing ILB Dylan Moses at their rush specialist OLB spot on passing downs. It made a huge difference in their pass rush (or lack thereof).

It's funny to say about Bama because it sounds ridiculous, but it can happen to anyone in college football because of the various forms of attrition.

I think its always interesting to point out where hokies end up. a little OT but sam Denmark signed with coastal Carolina today. (and there was no drama about him talking to any other recruits) best of luck to sam!

Maybe the official account is just tardy to the Nester Party? Or we can read in to it and assume it's Asante. The second will help pass the time at work more efficiently, so that's the road I am going down. All are welcome to join.

Yep. You'd think we would've been through enough of these to know how it works by now. These recruiting experts don't have 90+% accuracy by switching to the wrong school within 24 hours of the announcement.

LS Justin Pollock commits to the #Hokies as a PWO, ranked as the 40th best 2019 long snapper by Rubio's Long Snapping and #1 in VA among long snappers https://t.co/Rkp6mMlsj6— The Tech Lunch Pail (@techlunchpaild) February 6, 2019

Good size (6'3" says 247), accurate, decent footwork, throws the RPO slant well (Fuente bread and butter). Actually think he shows more on tape than Kadum, but I assume the competition level is lower. Curious to know more. Looks like walk on Jack Click type.

This demonstrates the issue moving forward with UNC. It doesn't matter if they win 7 games or 10 or anywhere in between. All they have to do is take a couple Asantes per class to fuck us. He was Tech before their push. Our class is good and I'm happy with it, but UNCs recruiting accumen is a problem for us, no question.

Time will tell how it shakes out but this isn't the first and won't be the last time UNC gets a recruit we want (Dazz Newsome, Travis Hughes, and Marquis Williams off the top of my head). UNC is a huge brand in college athletics and that's going to appeal to some recruits. Still, if our staff can unite the team and get things moving in the right direction again, I think we will be fine. Mack Brown is freaking old and that's not going to get any better.

Was at a VT/UNC have in Chapel Hill back in the Adibi/Hall era and the biggest cheer in the stadium (bigger than the entrance even) was when 4 basketball players showed up in the student section. Standing ovation DURING the game when UNC's offense was lining up.

They won't be the shiny object long. We just need to focus on making sure our own shine doesn't fade. This year has to be the start of a constant progression upward and recruits will have proof of the vision Fuente is selling.

"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"

But for how long? Does Mack get the Beamer treatment, especially if UNC remains mediocre?
Old, out of touch, the game has passed him, won't be there for 4 years, his only good years were with Vince Young, etc.

I'm not sure how long they'll be a thorn in the side, but I doubt it's Mack's entire tenure.

They're scared of missing out on bowl games for multiple years and turning in to Southern Rutgers but with better basketball. Mack's job is to make them respectable, keep the boosters happy (he's great at that) and leave the program in better shape when he walks away in 4 years.

I've countered previously that UNC has always gotten recruits, regardless of who the coaching staff was, and VT has won a lot of games during that time period post Mack Brown leaving UNC the first time.

The outlier now is NC State. Them having better recruiting is what will hurt VT.

Agreed. I always felt Fedora recruited pretty well for UNC with a few classes ranked above VT. I don't see how Mack Brown recruiting 4 - 4 star guys is anything new. Sure they will prb have a few more next year but UNC was always able to recruit 4 star and high 3 star players under Fedora as well. It's much easier for fans to point to guys who commit to UNC over VT and say "SEE I TOLD YOU, UNC IS STEALING OUR RECRUITS" to prove their point though so I'm sure this narrative will continue.

Really, the combination of improved recruiting at State, UNC, UMD, and even Duke (who has a gotten a few guys we'd have liked to have). The mid Atlantic is much tougher now. Couple that with Clemson and Alabama purging the top talent in the region, and Penn State coming down too, climbing the ladder is going to be an uphill battle.

Having guys like Mook and HH leave the program probably doesn't help recruiting in NC, but hopefully guys like Dax and Tre balling out will offset it.

As for Virginia, just one big season where we knock off Clemson and win the big games could do wonders to instill a sense of pride back in the VA kids. That's a tall task though. Look out 2022.

Really, the combination of improved recruiting at State, UNC, UMD, and even Duke (who has a gotten a few guys we'd have liked to have). The mid Atlantic is much tougher now.

This. Ideally, we'd want BC, Syracuse, FSU, and Miami to be the only other good teams in the ACC, with every team between PA and Atlanta being mediocre. Unfortunately, PSU is an established program, Clemson and UGA are humming, the three of four P5 NC schools are all improved, UMD and SCar are able to recruit well enough to be annoying, and GT will be back in the recruiting mix now that they are running a normal system (I won't go as far as to say GT is a sleeping giant, but I'm definitely afraid).

Haha. In a few years, if all goes according to plan, we should have a developed QP at QB, experienced talent at WR, solid OL, and hopefully a playmaker at RB. On defense, if we can get some playmakers at DE and CB (like was once our M.O.), we have a chance to make a run.

A lot of the starting talent on Clemson's roster will head to the NFL in 2020 so we have a chance to catch them at the right time, if things work out.

I assume you are talking about DJ Uiagalelei, who I do not think is anywhere close to the caliber of Trevor Lawrence. In fact, I think he is more likely to be a Logan Thomas than Trevor Lawrence.

That said, I completely agree with you about their overall program and recruiting momentum. Clemson is poised for a great 2020 recruiting class after a (relatively) disappointing 2019 class. Clemson just got a bunch of CB's for #1 overall player Bryan Bresee and is well positioned with some other big names.

Fun Fact: Bresee goes my HS and the kid is a phenomenal player. (obviously has to be if hes the #1 overall).

Hes 6-5, 290, and had 46 tackles, 34 TFL, and 12.5 sacks as a junior this year on a team that won 53 straight games and 3 consecutive state titles. Theres a quote from one of the other high school coaches saying that he kept getting sacks and they had to double team him and have the RB chip him on passing plays to stop him.

We didn't really need him if I'm gonna be that guy. Im pumped we got Nester and would have been stoked if we got Asante. OLB/LB is a position i'm happy with in regards to depth. Not a huge miss in regards to our roster...but yeah i'm sure we could have found him a spot on ST to start out.

I wish I had your optimism for the depth at backer. Dax is a mike. Rivers struggled (but perhaps he improves with experience). After that it's a bunch of unknown quantities. Tisdale might be the surprise, but I believe he's dealt with injuries. I bet Tech is hoping Barno comes in over the summer and turns heads.

Very much so. Rivers at backer concerns me, he seemed consistently a step slow this year..maybe that will improve with more experience, but I'm not convinced he has the lateral quickness to be effective there. Expect to see a steady diet of Wheel routes from opposing offenses.

Tisdale was hurt and is essentially an unknown at this point. Barno could be the guy but also is essentially an unknown now.

Asante and Deng were two guys that fit the backer mold and we wanted bad. We lost both late in the process after being considered leading and we lost them to historically bad football programs. Not a good thing, no matter how you want to cut it.

Yet again, I continue to beat the drum that we need stronger Recruiters on the coaching staff particularly on the defensive side. Offensively we've actually done relatively well, and Vice in particular has been outstanding. I'm not even sure who would be considered our top D recruiter...?Wiles... even with that we have massive holes On the defensive line that we have had to go to the JUCO ranks to fill so it's pretty hard to call him exactly successful.

Tisdale was a true freshman this year and I know Bud was really excited to pick him up . He has a lot of potential so let's pump the breaks on no depth until we see some of these young pups get some another spring training and fall camp under their belt

Ok folks I decided to dig back into VT's recruiting history and see how the classes stack up with composite 4* and above talent

-------------------------------

2009 - four 4*

2010 - five 4*

2011 - three 4*

2012 - six 4*

2013 - one 5* and two 4*

2014 - four 4*

2015 - four 4*

2016 - one 4*

2017 - five 4*

2018 - seven 4*

2019 - seven 4*

-------------------------------

27 4* and above recruits during 7 years
2016 - 2019 there have been a total of 20 4* recruits over 4 years counting the turnover period towards Fuente and Co. Realistically 3 years to recruit and 19 4* and above and at this rate (extrapolating based on last few years) Fuente and staff will recruit the same amount of 4*s in nearly half the time. 27 4*s in 4 years means almost half 1/3 your scholarship players are 4*s and above. Im ok with the way we are headed

What's important to figure out, and I'm going to dig into it, is how many total blue-chip (4- and 5-star) recruits there are per cycle. I want to know how much of the pie cake Tech's eating per cycle and then see whether or not that's increased or decreased.

This. The thing I want to see in the next cycle is we finally pick up a flashy player like a top rb or wr athlete that can be a big play maker from the start, is it a little high strung of a way to think sure but in order for us to compete eventually with who we want to we need a true game changer

Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

I get having talent to win championships or get in the college football playoff etc, but these recruiting things just blatantly leave out coaching as being a factor, as if its the recruiting classes that win the championships, not coaches. At the end of the day, the one thing these teams have in common isnt their recruiting numbers...its Nick Saban.

At the end of the day, the one thing these teams have in common isnt their recruiting numbers...its Nick Saban.

This is one of those situations where it's not an 'either or.' Nick Saban is the best CFB coach of all time because he's a elite coach, and an elite recruiter. His focus on recruiting has at the top or been best in class for years, and goes much deeper than 'Alabama has more money' or 'they've got a bigger support staff.' They've got that staff bc Saban knows it's value and he and his coaches are constantly thinking about recruiting

It's no coincidence that some of the best recruiters out there - Jimbo, Kirby Smart, Mario Cristobal, Jeremy Pruitt, Lane Kiffin, etc. all worked under Saban.

I mean thats kind of the point though - yes they recruit well but hes an elite coach.

There are handfuls of teams with this 'bluechip' ratio - yet two teams are repetively in the playoffs, and all but one of the coaches who have ever coached in a playoff game have had elite experience, yet just above half have the 'blue-chip' ratio. Recruiting and talen obviously matter, but coaching clearly matters more, the numbers are clear on that.

Its attributing causation to recruiting, when it should be attributed to those teams that have elite level coaching, it just so happens to be, in the majority of those cases they are one in the same.

Recruiting and talen obviously matter, but coaching clearly matters more, the numbers are clear on that

I think that's where some of us disagree. I don't think the numbers are that clear at all. The teams that recruit the best are much more often than not the elite teams. Even the 'outliers' that you posted above that didn't have >50% bluechip ratio, 2 of them were in the 40s.

So all the playoff teams were over 50%. Clemson, Bama, and UGA in the 60s. If your argument is 'coaching is what gets you over the hump and gets you a natty,' and cite Texas or USC I may follow, but to get to the dance, you better have more than half of your team high 4/5*

It's a small sample set. But the data is pretty conclusive. And I would bet, I haven't looked, but just from that list - Id wager there are a significant more blue chip ratio teams that ended up with losing record (FSU, ND) than there are coaches with elite experience that coach a team to losing record.

For the playoffs question though, The problem is the data sets overlap, but you when they can be separated coaching out weighs the talent ratio.

Of each of the individual playoff teams:

19 of 20 teams (95%) were coached by a coach with elite level experience

16 of 20 teams (80%) had the blue chip ratio

But of those 16 teams with a blue chip ratio - every one was coached by an elite experienced coach.

Yet, of the 19 teams with elite coaching experience only 16 had the blue chip ratio.

Statistically elite level coaching experience is more significant — which makes sense because they would see or orchestrate themselves what it takes to have elite success.

Id wager there are a significant more blue chip ratio teams that ended up with losing record (FSU, ND) than there are coaches with elite experience that coach a team to losing record.

These are two totally different issues, then. There is a difference between underperforming, and recruiting at a level that will get you to the playoffs. Can you recruit well and still lose? Yes, that does happen occasionally. Can you get to the playoffs if you don't recruit at an elite level? Not really.

But of those 16 teams with a blue chip ratio - every one was coached by an elite experienced coach.

I disagree with that statement. Is 'elite level experience' quantified somewhere? I don't think these guys are all elite. Definitely not 95% Kirby Smart has been a HC for 4 seasons now. He recruits at an elite level. It would be very tough to call him an elite X&Os coach if you try to ignore how good of a recruiter he is. Same with Mario Cristobal and Tom Herman.
I also wouldn't call Gus Malzahn an elite coach by any means, James Franklin isn't a strong X&Os guy, Clay Helton will probably be fired. Ed Orgeron and Jim Harbaugh also are somewhat of toss-ups if you're talking guys who are 'elite' coaches. I think it would be tough to argue either.

Sorry, I could see where that could be confusing. Elite level coaching experience wasn't subjective.

Elite level coaching experience from the original post = a coach who either coached a championship team themselves, assisted on a championship team's staff or coached under a coach with championship experience.

Every coach that's played in the playoff but Chris Petersen, as far as I can tell from Petersen's backgroun, had elite level coaching experience.

But once you get into the playoff, you have to beat two top 4 teams. I'm too lazy to do the research, but I'd wager that every team in the BCS/CFP era to ever beat two year-end top 5 teams in a single season has been above the 50% Blue Chip Ratio.

At the end of the day, the one thing these teams have in common isnt their recruiting numbers...its Nick Saban.

Since recruiting rankings have been somewhat accurate (probably around 2007), every team that won a BCS title has been above the bluechip ratio.

Good coaching is absolutely required to win a Natty. But if you don't pass the bluechip ratio, it doesn't matter how good your coaching is; you don't have the talent to win a Natty.

It might be useful to look at success rate of signing blue chips we've offered as well. Seeing how many of the total we get might not tell me much if there are a bunch of blue chips in Cali that we didn't pursue.

I mean first off, the southeast is the talent center of college football so we have enough talent around. And secondly the number we offer is irrelevant. Tennessee offers everyone. Clemson is more selective. They both end up with plenty. Our hit rate is irrelevant, only the guys that we end up with matter. If we need to adjust our offer strategy then we should do that. We don't get points for offering less guys.

Seems to me that "my way or the highway" is a requirement for any head coach. I don't get that it should be some neon warning sign to any athlete other than the less committed, the more egotistical, the more entitled. Some freedom of spirit is going to be tolerated by pretty much any major coach, as long as it isn't confrontational or insubordinate. They don't pay the man millions to mollycoddle and accommodate, they pay him to produce a decent football team. Yes, he must relate and be sensitive, and no, one size doesn't fit all, but as long as there is a reasonable attempt to accommodate for natural differences in personality, I won't fault him for having a code.

I'm not sure that's really the case. I think the coaching change + disciplinary issues + change in transfer rules + ubiquity of social media created a situation that spilled into the public view more than it typically does. Fu didn't have issues with the Edmunds brothers, Stroman, Settle, Sam Rogers, Isaiah Ford, Cam Phillips, Ricky Walker, Steven Peoples, Kyle Chung- lots of players considered team leaders who arrived near the end of the Beamer era. Most of the negativity seemed to stem from a select few players (Hill, Reynolds, and Kumah) and two of them had prior disciplinary issues. It certainly wasn't unheard of for players under Beamer to have disciplinary issues but the conditions were very different at that time.

Towards the end he mentioned that they dont have the staff and support to have a lot of kids on campus at one time so they have to support small groups...how was it that when beamer was here, we were able to get like 50 or 60 kids on campus at one time...i do appreciate the smaller setting and more one on one time, our lack of staff is REALLY hurting us from being able to realize our full potential

Reporters seemed to think he was referring to Kadum and Nester and the idea that if recruits are willing to take additional visits, they aren't truly committed. Fuente has made similar comments about our recruits in the past such as expecting them all to sign in the early signing period and drawing the line in the sand with Capehart.

Definitely not the right take IMO. I think this has been something consistent Fu has said in regards to our guys taking other visits. He has always felt that if you say you are committed you should not be taking visits to other schools and continue getting recruited, if you want to do that then de-commit.

Something interesting to me that stuck out around the 13 minute mark. He was talking about the quarterbacks and the recent departures and he said that when you have four guys who want to....play, you expect something like that to happen. The pause before he said play makes me think he was going to say compete, but then he changed the word choice. Pretty interesting compared to what we've heard about why the guys are leaving now.

I don't agree on Jerod. He was clearly going to be the guy. Fuente's mentality is competition, but Jerod would have been the clear starter if he had stayed. He would have been named the starter - doesn't mean he couldn't have lost the spot if he was ridiculous or something.

Fuente knows he wouldn't be fooling anyone if he had a clear starter and I think would prefer that from a leadership-team-building standpoint. He has named starters in previous roles.

Is everything ok at FSU?
They haven't taken a QB in back to back classes, they kicked their Starting QB off the team because his GF fake a DV video, they have had 2 of their worst recruiting classes, their Backup QB is thinking about transferring. They had 10 decommitments including 2 5*s, and Nick Cross is still up in the air. I'm not upset, just curious

I don't think that not taking a QB will be an issue since VT is having a fire sale on QBs. But yeah, clearly Taggert is having some recruiting issues to go with his on field issues. Something is going on there that isn't good.

I just watched Elijah Bowick's senior film (my first time watching any of him) and he very much already has the body of a college player. He's built like a tank and has surprisingly fluid body control, making some pretty spectacular catches despite looking more like a RB than WR. He's our lowest rated WR signee I believe, but he looks ready to get on the field right away.

I know others have beat this drum but think it is criminal the kid isn't a 4-star. Has excellent hand and routes, doesn't have top end speed but can get separation. Will definitely see the field for us this year.

If you're putting a lot of stock in 247 rankings, just remember that it is a company that is out to generate revenue through ad sales and subscriptions. Inside Carolina generates a lot of both for 247.

I think he's ends up 2nd team Center. Don't think he ends up irrelevant. Being able to play C means there's a spot on the roster, he also has the frame to play OG or OT, so I'm curious to see where he gets snaps.

I was watching ESPN2/U on my phone in the background for signing day and the poor guy pretty much had to give a whole speech to soften the blow before not picking LSU at his signing day ceremony. Basically reminding everyone that he is a human with agency who has to make a decision that is best for he, his family, and his goals. It was terrible thinking about how many people were furious at him for leaving the state at his own school, not to mention Louisiana at large. That said, it wasn't like they booed him, and plenty of people clapped his decision. It was just sad that he felt the need to preface his commitment with a speech like.

Reminds me of when Landon Collins committed to Bama and his mom didn't even smile and said "Geaux Tigers" when asked to comment.

I have several friends who are LSU fans and know they aren't all bad apples, but it's still sad to see stuff like that on what's supposed to be a big day for them.

I was at Lane for the LSU game in '02 and by chance, was sitting by an older LSU couple. They were cheering on the Tigers with all their heart, up until it was obvious the game was over and then..... I won't repeat the stuff they said to me about their own players. I was absolutely disgusted.

It's difficult to not think of that whenever I think of LSU. And I'm not surprised to read those comments.

They all loved Virginia Tech and last I heard were just trying to decide whether to announce en masse over the weekend or to space out commitments one at a time until NSD. I guess they must have chosen the later....

IMHO, I think he's unfairly getting lumped in with Hill's douchebaggery. Obviously him leaving isn't ideal but I think you juxapose his actions with Hill, the vitriol from the worst Hokies is undeserved.

Rumor has it that Fuente met with the guys in the portal and said pull out or your spot is gone. Clease came back and the rest said bye. Can't vouch for its credibility but it sure sounds like something Fuente would do.

I think we ought to have a Tech Players in the Portal thread. Keep track of schools they are looking at, visiting, etc. I for one am very curious as to where a guy like Hendon Hooker would be going. You are #4 on a QB depth chart, have rarely seen the field, why would a coach at a P5 school (except maybe FSU which is down to one QB and desperate) even be interested? Just what level would he be looking at to try to get playing time?

Wiles mentioned at the Hokie Club recruiting night in Charlotte that they would review kids wanting to come back on a case by case basis and there wouldn't be any "rule" by the staff on how they'd handle it. I'm not saying that to try and appear contradictory, just adding more information. He also said in his opinion that a lot of kids are going to be disappointed with how the transfer portal shakes out for them. He gets the impression kids are viewing it as their change at a second recruitment process and the expectation things are always going to be better is going to leave a lot of folks realizing the grass isn't often greener elsewhere.